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Doing Business with Us

As we work towards our ambitious but achievable goal of ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues our vital work with partners from around the world. CDC maintains strong, collaborative partnerships with country governments including Ministries of Health, as well as non-governmental organizations, leading universities, faith-based organizations, multilateral organizations, and the private sector.

CDC funds partners through Funding Opportunity Announcements posted each year on Grants.gov. The projects focused on fighting global HIV/AIDS are part of the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief’s work with partners to control the HIV/AIDS epidemic in each country to achieve a sustainable response.

Frequently Asked Questions

How and where does the US Government fund HIV/AIDS work internationally?

What is PEPFAR?

PEPFAR is the U.S. Government initiative to help save the lives of those suffering from HIV/AIDS around the world. This historic commitment is the largest by any nation to combat a single disease internationally, and PEPFAR investments also help alleviate suffering from other diseases across the global health spectrum. For more information, visit www.pepfar.gov.

What is CDC’s role in PEPFAR?

As America’s leading science-based public health and disease prevention agency, CDC plays a central role in PEPFAR. CDC uses our technical expertise in public health science and long-standing relationships with Ministries of Health across the globe to work side-by-side with countries to build strong national programs and sustainable public health systems. These partners support countries to respond effectively to the global HIV/AIDS epidemic and to other diseases that threaten the health and prosperity of the global community at large. For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/globalhivtb.

Does CDC provide direct care in countries?

No. CDC has long-standing relationships with Ministries of Health. We work side-by-side with Ministries of Health in 44 countries to build their capacity to lead and manage their national HIV/AIDS programs by providing direct technical assistance and knowledge transfer. We work with countries to build high-quality laboratory systems and services that are critical for HIV prevention, care and treatment, as well as for other diseases.

How does CDC determine which programs it will fund each year?

The US Government funds HIV/AIDS programs internationally through PEPFAR. As one of the PEPFAR implementing agencies, CDC funding for global HIV/AIDS is programmed through the PEPFAR Country Operational Plans and Regional Operational Plans. These plans cover all PEPFAR-funded agencies that are currently operating in foreign countries. For more information, visit www.pepfar.gov/countries/cop/index.htm.

PEPFAR country budgets and activities are submitted through the PEPFAR Country Operational Plans and Regional Operational Plans by the PEPFAR country teams. These plans are then approved by the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, and funded by the US Congress. More information on PEPFAR funding can be found at https://data.pepfar.net.

How does CDC decide which projects to fund in countries?

The funding process is a several step process:

After determining what programs it will fund each year, CDC offices in the field and at headquarters analyze their current portfolio of projects. The CDC offices then determine if any shifts in programmatic focus or funding are needed, and if there are unmet needs.

Once the portfolio review is complete and specific projects are agreed and approved, the proposed Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is forecast on www.grants.gov. This provides applicants with basic information on opportunities that will be available. Then CDC field offices draft the FOA. These undergo a rigorous review within DGHT, CGH, and CDC. Interested organizations can sign up on the FOA forecast page on www.grants.gov for change notification emails to receive automatic notification when the FOA is published.

The FOA is published on www.grants.gov after it is finalized and approved through the agency review process. After publication, applicants have at least 60 days to respond. Questions must be submitted in accordance with instructions in the published FOA which is typically the first 15 days.

When the application period is closed, CDC receives the applications and the Review and Selection Process begins. The Office of Grant Services (OGS) and DGHT complete the Phase I responsiveness review. Responsive Applications move to the Phase II review commonly referred to as the Objective Review. Each application is reviewed and scored against the criteria listed in the FOA by at least three subject matter experts. The reviewers are brought together in an Objective Review Panel to present their findings and each reviewer scores the application. The Phase III review, including funding preferences and other considerations stated in the published FOA, is conducted by OGS and DGHT.

At the completion of the Review and Selection Process, CDC offices are notified of the results and make funding decisions. OGS communicates with awardees non-responsive applicants. DGHT communicates the results to approved but unfunded applicants. All approved applicants (funded and unfunded) are provided with a summary statement that includes the strengths and weaknesses of their applications.

How does CDC determine the funding levels for each award?

The overall funding for each project is determined in the PEPFAR Country Operational Plans, Regional Operational Plans, and Headquarters Operational Plan through the process described above.

Each award is planned with a funding ceiling, which is the maximum potential funding level. The final funding level is subject to the awardee’s ability to receive and expend funds, as well as the availability of PEPFAR funds.

The overall funding level may change from year to year depending upon the approved work plan and funds made available to CDC by the US Congress.

Are all CDC projects competitively awarded?

CDC follows US Government regulations regarding grant making. As such, CDC projects are competitively awarded except in select cases where a direct award is deemed appropriate in line with US Government regulations. For more information on the awards criteria and USG regulations regarding grant making, visit www.grants.gov/web/grants/learn-grants/grant-policies.html.

Where can I find the Funding Opportunity Announcements that are currently open for applications?

Does CDC fund local partners?

Yes. Reflecting PEPFAR’s commitment to country ownership, CDC is a strong supporter of local indigenous organizations. Overall, CDC invests more resources into local, indigenous partners than international partners.

CDC has many international partners. I am concerned that this funding doesn’t reach the beneficiary countries. Is this true?

No. For international partners, funding is still spent directly in the partner country, benefiting people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS and helping to also prevent transmission of the disease in that country. Funds awarded to international organizations also include sub grants to local organizations that also directly support partner countries.

Current Partnerships

In fiscal year 2015, CDC through the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief had a total of 420 cooperative agreements with organizations around the world in support of the ambitious but achievable goal of ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030.

Reflecting PEPFAR’s commitment to country ownership, CDC is a strong supporter of local indigenous organizations. Overall, CDC invests more resources into local, indigenous partners than international.

For international partners, funding is still spent directly in the partner country, benefitting people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Funds awarded to international organizations also include sub grants to local organizations that also directly support partner countries.

CDC Active Cooperative Agreements for global HIV/AIDS, by Organization Type, as of November 1, 2015

CDC Active Cooperative Agreements for global HIV/AIDS, by Implementing Partner Type, as of November 1, 2015

CDC Active Cooperative Agreements for global HIV/AIDS, by Implementing Partner Type, as of November 1, 2015

Definitions of Implementing Partner Types

Non-Governmental Organization: A legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government

Ministry of Health: Government entity focused on issues related to the general health of the citizens

Parastatal: A foreign government entity that is not a Ministry of Health

Multi-Lateral: An organization formed between three or more nations to work on issues that relate to all of the countries in the organization

Private Entity: Any entity other than a State, local government, Indian tribe, or foreign public entity

Funding Trends Over Time

CDC Funding Trends for Global HIV/AIDS over Time

When funding international partners. Money is still spent in the country of operation. The awarded funds include sub grants to local organizations and the majority is expended in country.

The overall trend is that CDC invests more resources into local/indigenous partners than international.

Recent Cooperative Agreements

Funding Opportunity Announcement Questions and Answers

Please note all CDC’s Division of Global HIV/AIDS (DGHA) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOAs) are officially posted and advertised on grants.gov which is also used to post Question/Answers and additional information regarding DGHA FOAs. All formal amendments, changes, and updates to FOAs can be found at grants.gov. It is not possible to submit applications, questions, or seek help with application submissions via this site. For all application submissions and inquiries, please go to grants.gov.